Prophylactic dental appliance.



{SHEETS-SHEET l1,

No. 791.668; l PATENTED JUNE 6, 1905.

'l E. H. APEL & S. A. MERKLEY.

PROPHYLAGTIC DENTAL APPLIANGE.

APPLICATION II/LED EEB. 18, 1904;.y

' 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

Z'. Dg

UNITED STATES Patented .Tune 6, 1905.

PATENT OEEICE.

FREDERICK H. APEL, OF ATHOL SPRINGS, AND STANLEY A. MERKLEY,

i OF BUFFALO, NEW YORK.

PROPHYLACTIC DENTAL `APPLIANCE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 791,668, dated June 6, 1905.

I i Application filed February 18, 1904:. Serial No. 194,287. I

1'0 all w/wm/ t may concern:

Be it known that we, FREDERICK H. APEL, residing at Athol Springs, and STANLEY'A. MERKLEY, residing at Buffalo, in the county of Erie and State of New York, citizens of the United States, have jointly invented certain new and useful Improvements in Prophylactic Dental Appliances, of which the following is a specification.

l ticle of this type which is so constructed as to inclose all parts within a case; to pivotally connect the two parts of the case to permitn the paste-dentifrice vtube secured to one part thereof to be brought in opposition to the tooth-brush or the fioss-silk holder, both of which arepivotally secured to the other part of the case; to provide a floss-silk holder which is pivotally attached to the case, and to provide means for clamping the floss-silk when the said floss-silk holder is swung open. With these and other objects in View the invention consists in the new and useful construction, arrangement, and combination of parts to be hereinafter described, and particul'arly pointed out in the appended claims.

j In the drawings, Figure 1 isa perspective view of our improved dental Yprophylactor. Fig. 2 is a face view of the case opened, showing the several articles in their -respective places within the case. Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the device, showing the toothbrush swung on its pivot and the paste-dentifrice tube brought against the brush to permit a quantity of the dentifrice to be deposited thereon. Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the device, showing the floss-silk holder partly' opened andthreaded With floss-silk and the paste-dentifrice tube brought in opposition to the floss-silk to permit a quantity of the dentifrice to be deposited thereon. Fig. 5 is a rear view of the case With the ioss-s'ilk holder extended and threaded. Fig. 6 is a side view of the upper portion of the case with the tooth-brush extended. Fig. 7 is a central longitudinal section of the device, the flosssilk holder being fully extended and the toothbrush and knife partly extended. Fig. 8 is an enlarged longitudinal transverse section of the upper portion of the device. Fig. 9 is a cross-section through the casing, the parts Within being omitted. Fig. 10 is a detached. perspective view of the floss-silk holder. Fig. 1l is a detached perspective view of the metal cover which lits over the head of the floss-silk holder and serves to inclose and confine-a spool of silk oss within the said head. Fig. 12 isv a vertical section taken online "Jy, Fig. 8, on a reduced scale. section taken on line e e, Fig. 8. Fig. 14 is a detached perspective view of the rubberband carrier with a number of bands' held thereon.

Referring now in detail to the drawings, corresponding numerals of reference refer to corresponding parts in the several figures.

Ihe numeral l designates the case wherein the several parts of the device are confined.

Said case consists of two channeled parts 2 3, hinged together, as at 4, to permit of conveniently opening and closing the same. For

convenience of description the part 2 will be termed the body of the case and the part 3 thefcover for the same.

Secured in the sides of the cover is a wire support 5, around which the thin fiat end of a compressible paste-tube 6 is bent, which from the tube as it is needed, and when en- Fig. 18 is a vertical tirely consumed the attached end thereof can be readily removed and a new tube substituted.

Pivotally attached to the free end of the ease-body is a ioss-silk holder 8, which consists of a suitable hollow head 9, comprising a coneavo-convex cross-plate 10, having angular ends 11, and the floss-holder arms 12, preferably formed of spring-.wire passed through a longitudinal aperture 13 in said head and thence bent at right angles to form the arms 12, which have their free ends terminating in right-angled extensions 14, having each a notch 15 cut therein near its outer end. Formed in the angular ends 11 of, the hollow head are oppositely-threaded apertures 16, intowhich are screwed right-hand and lefthandthreaded screws 17, which serve as pivots onwhich the hollow head revolves. The rear wall of the case-body is slitted longitudinally, as at 18, to form a suitable spring 19, which extends from the free end of the casebody to a point about midway between its ends.

20designates a tooth-brush removably attached to a channeled head 21, whichis pivotally connected to a suitable handle 22, so as to be adjusted to any desired angle to render` the same easily accessible to any part of the mouth. The said handle is pivotally held on the cylindrical, enlarged portion of one of the pivot-screws 17, as is a knife-blade 23. Both,

thegbrush-handle and the said knife-blade on being opened or closed act against theyspring 19 and are therefore held against movement whenf in either position unless considerable force is applied to overcome the actionof the said spring.

have their outer ends projecting'through said- Walls and aretherefore held against turning. Secured to the outer end of each pivot-screw is anut 26, having recesses 27, into which a suitable key is tted to turn the same. The said nuts are preferably tightened against the side walls of the ease when the arms. of .the

floss-silk holder are extended, and when said armsare swung into the case said nuts are moved away fromthe said walls by reason of theright-hand andleft-hand pivot-screws 17 unserewing within the head of said holder ]n securing4 the several parts of thedevice in the case-body the side walls arel close said spool and prevent unintentional dislodgment thereof. The head is by preference provided with a longitudinaly rib 30 at one side edge of the concavo-convex crossplate 10 and with a longitudinal groove 31 at the other side edge of said plate. The cover 29 is U-shaped in cross-section to correspond with the outline of the angular ends of said hollow head and has its ends open. One of lthe extremities of said U-shaped cover is provided with an internal. longitudinal groove 32, into which the `rib 30 on the head of the Hossholder fits, and the other extremity of said cover is provided with an internal longitudina'l beadv 33, which is adapted to be sprung into -the groove 31 on said head, thereby securely holding the cover to the latter and completelyinclosing the spool of dess-silk. Before attaching the cover and completely inclosing the spool of Hess-silk the end of the silk is passed through an aperture 34, formed in the cover, thus holding the silk convenient to be threaded on the holder 8.

35 designates aU-shaped wire carrier for rubber bands, and it has its extremities bent laterally, as at 36, to form suitable pivots, which are held in suitable apertures 37,formed in the sides of the case-body. The said car,- rier is normally swung against the rear wall of the case-body and held in such position by the brush-handle, the arms of the oss-holder, and the knife-blade, but byreason of its being pivotally attached to the case can be swung out,` as shown in dotted` lines, Fig. 7, to permit of its being supplied with rubber bands, which itis purposed` to use whenithe iosssilk is consumed and a new supply is unobta-inable at the time.

Wheny the case is closed, the arms of the liess-silk holder are unthreadedand the pastetube in the cover is held between: said arms. When` it is desiredv to use the tooth-brush, the case is opened to bring the cover at substantially right` angles to the case-body. The brush is then swung on its pivot into a partly extended position and the paste-tube brought in contact with the brush. Pressure onthe tube willcausea quantity of .the -paste tofbe` ejected and deposited on the brush. The tu be is then swung into the channeled cover, the brush-handle extended fully, and .the case closed. The brush is now ready for use and the ease serves. as a, continuation of the brush,- handle.

When the floss-silk is tobe used, the arms of the holder8 are swung out at an angle to the case-body. The lioss-silk is taken hold of and passed around one of the pivot-serews17 between the case and the adjacent nut, then out and across to the opposite extensionot' the holding-arm and into'the notch thereof, thence over to the notch in the extension of the opposite arm, thence back to the opposite side-of the case, and around the other pi votscrew. While passing around the last-men- IOO IIi

.opening the holding-arms the head ,of the ioss-silk holder is turned and the pivot-screws 17 are caused to screw farther into said head,

causing the nuts to tighten against the casel and clamp the floss-silk securely. Y The extra tension givenl by pressing the arms of the yholder together will take up all slackness caused by the stretching of the silk when Wet.

That portion of the oss-silk threaded between the angular extensions 14 is arranged out of the plane of and at right angles to the .arms 12 and it can therefore be conveniently used in every part' of the mouth without stretching the face or opening the mouth wide. By reason of such arrangement the floss-silk holder can be conveniently placed in the mouth and the iioss-silk passed between the rear teeth to remove all particles of food, &c., by a slight oscillatory movement of the holder which causes the silk to be passed back andv forth between the teeth. When it is desired to make the interstitial spaces between the teeth thoroughly antiseptic, the threaded floss-holder is swung into va position assuming an acute angle to the case, as shown in Fig. 4. and the paste-tube is swung into opposition therewith. A quantity of the paste is applied to the floss-silk by a slight pressure on the tube, after which the holder is extended and the case closed. Treatment with the floss between the teeth, as before described, will make the interstitial spaces between the teeth thoroughly antiseptic. After the teeth are cleaned with the floss-silk the case is opened, the holder swung at an angle to the case-body to cause the pivot-screws to unscrew within the head 8 and loosen the nuts to permit of releasing the ioss-silk. The free dry end of the floss-silk is now taken hold of and Unthreaded and the used portion of the silk is cut away by passing over the knifeblade previously opened.

When the floss-silk is consumed and a further supply cannot be conveniently had at the time,` one of the rubber bands held on the wire carrier 35 is drawn up against the pivots 36 thereof and the band stretched to pass-over the angular extensions of the arms l2 previously extended for such purpose.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim is- 1. A dental appliance comprising a two-part case hinged together at one end, a tooth-brush having its handle pivotally attached to the free end of one part of said case, a cross-bar secured to the other part of the case near the.

free end thereof, and a dentifrice paste-tube having its closed iiat end bentaround said cross-bar, said two parts of thecase being disposed at an angle to each other when the brush is beingl supplied with said paste to allow the said tube to be swung into contact with the brush.

2. VA dental appliance comprising a two-part case hinged together at one end, a fioss-silk holder pivotally .attached to the free end of one part of said case and having-means for holding a quantity of iioss-silk under tension, and a dentifrice paste-tube having its closed flat end secured to the lother part of the case, thereby permitting said tube and the floss-silk under tension to be brought in contact.

3. A dental appliance comprising a two-part case hinged together at one end, aioss-silk holder comprising a head pivotally attached to the free end of one part of said case and wire arms extending from said head, each arm having an angular extension at its outer end, said Hoes-silk holder holding a spool of iiosssilk with a quantity of said silk threaded-on said Wire arms, and a dentifrice paste-tube secured tothe other part of the case, whereby a quantity of the dentifrice paste can be de.- psited on the threaded portion ofthe flosssi k. l

4. A dental appliancecomprising a hinged case, a floss-silk holder having a hollow head pivotally attached to said case at one end thereof and two spring wire arms extending from saidvhead, each arm having an angular extension yat its outer end, a spool of Hess-silk held in said hollow head and having a quantity of silk threaded on said wire arms, and means for holding said silk to keep the threaded portion thereof under tension.

5. A dental'appliance comprising a case, a floss-silk holder having a hollow head and two wire arms extending from said head, each arm havinga notched angular extension at its outer end, a right-hand screw and a left-hand screw entering opposite ends of said hollow head and passing through said case so as to project therefrom, said screws being held in said case against turning, nuts screwed onto the projecting ends of said screws, and a quantity of floss-silk held in said hollow head and being threaded on said arms and clamped between said nuts and the casing, the turning of the said hollow head serving to move said nuts toward and from the casing by reason of the intervention of said right-hand and left-hand screw.

6. A dentifrice appliance comprising a hinged case, a floss-silk holder having a hollow head pivotally attached to said case at one end thereof and arms extending from said head, a quantity of floss-silk held within said hollow head, and a detachable cover for s aid head having an aperture through which said flosssilk passes, the ioss-silk drawn through said aperture being threaded on said arms, substantially as set forth.

7. A dental appliance comprising a hinged case, a ioss-silk holder having a hollow head pivotally attached to the case at one end there- IOO IIO

yoiia'nd =arms-extending from said head,said hollow head consisting of a cross-plate having .angular extensions, a quantityof -iioss-silk .heldwithin said hollow head, and adetachable cover fitting over said angular extensions :and rhaving -an aperture therein through which -saidf-iioss-sil'k is drawn and threaded on the farms extending from said hollow head.

VA8. A dental appliance comprising a case, a

IO "floss-silk holder vhaving a hollow head pivotally attached to the case and suitable arms exltending from said head, said hollow head consisting of a cross-plate having a-groove at one .side edge and a rib at its other side edge, and

I5 -suitableends arranged at 'rightangles to said cross-plate, av quantity of floss-silk held withinvsaid hollow-head, and va cover fitting over the ends o-said hollowheadand havingan internalgroove fitting the'rib on said hollow head, and-a bead fitting said groove also formed 'on said head, said cover having also 'an aperture'- therein through which the iioss-silkl is drawn .and threaded on the armsextending from said hollow head.

. 9. Adental appliance comprisinga two-part `case hinged together at one end, a iioss-silk holder and .avtooth-brush pivotally `attached .to the free end of one part of said case, anda dentifrice-receptacle movably attached tothe other partv of said case to permit of its coperating with the floss-silk holder and the toot-hbrush, respectively.

:10. A dentifrice appliance comprising A a frei-,ees

respectively.

ll. A dental appliance comprisingacase, a oss-silk holder pivotally attached to one end of the case, and a'rubber-band carrier held in the case beneath said floss-silk holder, whereby a rubber band may be drawn over the liesssilk. holder for use.

`12. A dental appliance comprising a case, a ioss-silk holder having silk-holding arms and being pivotally attached to one end of the case, and a U-shaped wire carrier having lateral extensions serving as pivots that enter the case, said carrier having a number of rubber bands held thereon, any one of which maybe ldrawn-over the holding-arms of the iioss-silk holder.

Ini testimony :whereof we have -alixed our signatures in the presence or' two subscribing witnesses.

FRED. H. APEL. STANLEY A. MERKLEY. Witnesses:

CHAS. F. BURKHART,

EMIL NEUHART. 

